Judd Trump earns place in European Masters final with late rally against John Higgins
- Planet Sport writer
- 27 August 2023
Judd Trump had to fight back from 4-2 down to beat John Higgins and claim his place in the European Masters final.
Judd Trump felt perseverance was the key after beating John Higgins 6-5 to reach the European Masters final in Nuremberg.
Trump rallied from 4-2 down to beat Higgins and set up a final date with Barry Hawkins.
"It is always an incredible game with John. I said before the game that it is a match I always cherish," 23-time ranking event winner Trump was quoted as saying on the World Snooker Tour website.
"I know that I need to play somewhere near my best.
"Obviously I wasn't at my best, but I managed to dig in and do what John and Mark Selby do. They don't give in."
Higgins swept into a 3-0 lead with breaks of 59, 50 and 70 before Trump produced impressive contributions of 111 and 93.
The Scot responded with a brilliant 114 but Trump fought back from 4-2 and 5-4 deficits, with a final frame 73 sealing matters.
Hawkins will contest the £80,000 top prize with Trump on Sunday after beating Mark Selby 6-4 in another high-quality semi-final.
Selby tied Stephen Hendry's 777 century breaks made as a professional with 134 in the opening frame.
Hawkins responded with 106 in the second frame - his 429nd career century - and continued to peg Selby back each time he fell behind as the score reached 3-3.
The Kent player took the lead for the first time due to a 70 break before 94 from Selby levelled matters again.
But Hawkins claimed the next two frames - sealing victory with a fine 73 - to move within one win of his fourth ranking title, over six years after his third.
"To win those sorts of frames is a massive boost in confidence," said Hawkins. "I held myself together under the utmost pressure."
